The tourism crisis in Tulum has begun to affect rural communities. In Macario Gómez, one of the main communities on the Tulum–Cobá route, several large restaurants have closed their doors due to low visitor numbers.
Jhoana Jiménez, a small restaurant worker, noted that the situation is more critical for larger establishments, which depended almost entirely on tourism. “There are many places that are already closed,” she stated. Although family businesses continue to operate, they do so with minimal margins, subsisting primarily on local customers.
Macario Gómez, known for its artisanal and culinary offerings, has been marginalized from the most promoted tourist routes. This has resulted in a drastic decrease in visitors, especially during weekdays. “There aren’t many tourists, but we’re doing just fine,” commented Jiménez, who acknowledges that the income from her family business is barely enough to cover salaries and sustain the family.
With each business closure, jobs and opportunities are lost, reflecting a fracture in the community’s social life. With the lack of tourists and support strategies for these communities, small businesses operate with the bare minimum, with no room to grow or offer stability to their workers.
Source: elpuntosobrelai
